Dolphin Ratings - National Basketball Association

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         2 0 260 206 -0.097  0.817    7  0.169    7  0.153    3  0.266    5 0.5597    6  4.001    1  0.467   13  0.065 P
LAKERS        2 0 252 222 -0.085  0.864    5  0.189    6  0.171    7  0.162    8 0.5450    5  4.012    2  0.420   19 -0.097 P
PISTONS       2 0 249 224  0.073  1.017    4  0.203    5  0.192    8  0.152    4 0.5645    7  3.997    3  0.333   18 -0.030 P
ROCKETS       2 0 242 220  0.051  0.990    3  0.216    4  0.200    6  0.170    2 0.5678   12  3.979    4  0.258   12  0.082 P
BUCKS         0 2 241 260 -0.549  0.593   29 -0.254   29 -0.285   24 -0.222   28 0.4152    1  4.053    5  0.256   30 -0.699 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 2 0 252 203 -0.380  0.611   10  0.112   10  0.102   10  0.130   10 0.5322   14  3.975    6  0.197   14  0.063 P
TIMBERWOLVES  2 0 246 199  0.063  0.954    2  0.225    3  0.203    2  0.341    3 0.5650   23  3.925    7  0.150    3  0.531 P
CELTICS       1 1 220 224  0.319  1.223   11  0.107   11  0.085    5  0.199   11 0.5314   19  3.952    8  0.146    7  0.252 P
CLIPPERS      1 1 238 221  0.058  0.968   12  0.023   13  0.004    9  0.139   15 0.4995   18  3.957    9  0.113    8  0.164 P
PELICANS      0 2 239 243 -0.463  0.642   30 -0.267   30 -0.288   22 -0.183   30 0.4085    2  4.017   10  0.104   28 -0.470 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          0 2 217 259  0.225  1.262   24 -0.144   25 -0.150   20 -0.166   24 0.4586    4  4.012   11  0.093   27 -0.424 P
MAVERICKS     1 1 231 233  0.228  1.210   13  0.013   12  0.015   17 -0.015   12 0.5182   13  3.978   12  0.067   20 -0.097 P
CAVALIERS     0 1 106 114  0.454  0.693   16 -0.027   17 -0.044   13  0.088   14 0.4999   17  3.958   13  0.064   11  0.112 P
BULLS         1 1 224 260  0.096  1.201   15 -0.007   14 -0.001   26 -0.255   16 0.4931    3  4.015   14  0.019   29 -0.529 P
MAGIC         0 2 218 247  0.372  1.371   25 -0.147   23 -0.144   19 -0.119   25 0.4523    8  3.989   15  0.016   22 -0.254 P
RAPTORS       2 0 247 194 -0.378  0.593    8  0.143    9  0.119    4  0.207    7 0.5485   25  3.920   16 -0.008    5  0.422 P
SPURS         0 2 214 230  0.284  1.266   23 -0.139   24 -0.145   16 -0.014   22 0.4653   15  3.962   17 -0.015   16 -0.013 P
PACERS        1 1 228 241 -0.224  0.846   17 -0.040   18 -0.053   21 -0.171   19 0.4733   10  3.981   18 -0.073   24 -0.269 P
GRIZZLIES     2 0 234 211 -0.281  0.737    9  0.141    8  0.128   15  0.020    9 0.5409   22  3.943   19 -0.076   10  0.117 P
THUNDER       2 0 212 188  0.213  1.087    1  0.270    1  0.260    1  0.359    1 0.5842   29  3.869   20 -0.107    1  0.826 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KINGS         0 2 216 249  0.213  1.272   27 -0.195   27 -0.186   25 -0.243   27 0.4302    9  3.986   21 -0.119   25 -0.367 P
76ERS         2 0 220 206  0.210  1.159    6  0.185    2  0.205   14  0.080    6 0.5545   24  3.922   22 -0.126    6  0.287 P
WARRIORS      0 2 213 238  0.166  1.185   26 -0.151   26 -0.161   18 -0.078   23 0.4609   20  3.951   23 -0.136   17 -0.020 P
JAZZ          1 1 223 242 -0.245  0.899   20 -0.067   19 -0.067   28 -0.276   21 0.4695   11  3.980   24 -0.183   26 -0.368 P
KNICKS        0 2 203 213  0.305  1.244   21 -0.109   22 -0.126   12  0.093   20 0.4702   27  3.893   25 -0.257    4  0.442 P
WIZARDS       1 1 230 228 -0.309  0.835   22 -0.115   21 -0.107   27 -0.271   26 0.4480   16  3.962   26 -0.274   23 -0.269 P
NETS          0 1 103 110 -0.966  0.158   28 -0.220   28 -0.242   29 -0.308   29 0.4151   21  3.949   27 -0.378   21 -0.238 P
NUGGETS       0 1  84  96  0.944  0.859   14 -0.004   15 -0.014   11  0.100   13 0.5101   30  3.849   28 -0.464    2  0.664 P
SUNS          0 1  83 124  0.451  0.738   19 -0.062   20 -0.068   23 -0.213   18 0.4772   26  3.896   29 -0.545    9  0.120 P
HORNETS       1 1 191 231 -0.172  0.984   18 -0.048   16 -0.036   30 -0.332   17 0.4837   28  3.885   30 -0.722   15  0.059 P

PACIFIC DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        2 0 252 222 -0.085  0.864    5  0.189    6  0.171    7  0.162    8 0.5450    5  4.012    2  0.420   19 -0.097 P
CLIPPERS      1 1 238 221  0.058  0.968   12  0.023   13  0.004    9  0.139   15 0.4995   18  3.957    9  0.113    8  0.164 P
KINGS         0 2 216 249  0.213  1.272   27 -0.195   27 -0.186   25 -0.243   27 0.4302    9  3.986   21 -0.119   25 -0.367 P
WARRIORS      0 2 213 238  0.166  1.185   26 -0.151   26 -0.161   18 -0.078   23 0.4609   20  3.951   23 -0.136   17 -0.020 P
SUNS          0 1  83 124  0.451  0.738   19 -0.062   20 -0.068   23 -0.213   18 0.4772   26  3.896   29 -0.545    9  0.120 P

NORTHWEST DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TRAIL BLAZERS 2 0 252 203 -0.380  0.611   10  0.112   10  0.102   10  0.130   10 0.5322   14  3.975    6  0.197   14  0.063 P
TIMBERWOLVES  2 0 246 199  0.063  0.954    2  0.225    3  0.203    2  0.341    3 0.5650   23  3.925    7  0.150    3  0.531 P
THUNDER       2 0 212 188  0.213  1.087    1  0.270    1  0.260    1  0.359    1 0.5842   29  3.869   20 -0.107    1  0.826 P
JAZZ          1 1 223 242 -0.245  0.899   20 -0.067   19 -0.067   28 -0.276   21 0.4695   11  3.980   24 -0.183   26 -0.368 P
NUGGETS       0 1  84  96  0.944  0.859   14 -0.004   15 -0.014   11  0.100   13 0.5101   30  3.849   28 -0.464    2  0.664 P

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ROCKETS       2 0 242 220  0.051  0.990    3  0.216    4  0.200    6  0.170    2 0.5678   12  3.979    4  0.258   12  0.082 P
PELICANS      0 2 239 243 -0.463  0.642   30 -0.267   30 -0.288   22 -0.183   30 0.4085    2  4.017   10  0.104   28 -0.470 P
MAVERICKS     1 1 231 233  0.228  1.210   13  0.013   12  0.015   17 -0.015   12 0.5182   13  3.978   12  0.067   20 -0.097 P
SPURS         0 2 214 230  0.284  1.266   23 -0.139   24 -0.145   16 -0.014   22 0.4653   15  3.962   17 -0.015   16 -0.013 P
GRIZZLIES     2 0 234 211 -0.281  0.737    9  0.141    8  0.128   15  0.020    9 0.5409   22  3.943   19 -0.076   10  0.117 P

CENTRAL DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
PISTONS       2 0 249 224  0.073  1.017    4  0.203    5  0.192    8  0.152    4 0.5645    7  3.997    3  0.333   18 -0.030 P
BUCKS         0 2 241 260 -0.549  0.593   29 -0.254   29 -0.285   24 -0.222   28 0.4152    1  4.053    5  0.256   30 -0.699 P
CAVALIERS     0 1 106 114  0.454  0.693   16 -0.027   17 -0.044   13  0.088   14 0.4999   17  3.958   13  0.064   11  0.112 P
BULLS         1 1 224 260  0.096  1.201   15 -0.007   14 -0.001   26 -0.255   16 0.4931    3  4.015   14  0.019   29 -0.529 P
PACERS        1 1 228 241 -0.224  0.846   17 -0.040   18 -0.053   21 -0.171   19 0.4733   10  3.981   18 -0.073   24 -0.269 P

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         2 0 260 206 -0.097  0.817    7  0.169    7  0.153    3  0.266    5 0.5597    6  4.001    1  0.467   13  0.065 P
HEAT          0 2 217 259  0.225  1.262   24 -0.144   25 -0.150   20 -0.166   24 0.4586    4  4.012   11  0.093   27 -0.424 P
MAGIC         0 2 218 247  0.372  1.371   25 -0.147   23 -0.144   19 -0.119   25 0.4523    8  3.989   15  0.016   22 -0.254 P
WIZARDS       1 1 230 228 -0.309  0.835   22 -0.115   21 -0.107   27 -0.271   26 0.4480   16  3.962   26 -0.274   23 -0.269 P
HORNETS       1 1 191 231 -0.172  0.984   18 -0.048   16 -0.036   30 -0.332   17 0.4837   28  3.885   30 -0.722   15  0.059 P

ATLANTIC DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CELTICS       1 1 220 224  0.319  1.223   11  0.107   11  0.085    5  0.199   11 0.5314   19  3.952    8  0.146    7  0.252 P
RAPTORS       2 0 247 194 -0.378  0.593    8  0.143    9  0.119    4  0.207    7 0.5485   25  3.920   16 -0.008    5  0.422 P
76ERS         2 0 220 206  0.210  1.159    6  0.185    2  0.205   14  0.080    6 0.5545   24  3.922   22 -0.126    6  0.287 P
KNICKS        0 2 203 213  0.305  1.244   21 -0.109   22 -0.126   12  0.093   20 0.4702   27  3.893   25 -0.257    4  0.442 P
NETS          0 1 103 110 -0.966  0.158   28 -0.220   28 -0.242   29 -0.308   29 0.4151   21  3.949   27 -0.378   21 -0.238 P

DIVISION           W L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 7 2 0.778    1  0.347
ATLANTIC DIVISION  5 4 0.556    2  0.151
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 5 5 0.500    3  0.014
PACIFIC DIVISION   3 6 0.333    4 -0.101
CENTRAL DIVISION   4 5 0.444    5 -0.173
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 4 6 0.400    6 -0.275

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.264 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.025 points in improved RPI (0.019 for semineutral)
Average of 2.15 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sat Oct 24 05:30:19 2026
games through: Fri Oct 23 2026

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